SAGA
South Asian Growth And Awareness Group
A virtual support group for south asians, by south asians..
South Asian Growth and Awareness Group
Are you a south asian living in America, who struggles to find a balance between your South Asian identity and “being an American”? Do you sometimes feel misunderstood, both within your family and in your larger society? Or perhaps you find it challenging, exploring life in a new country?
Whether you are a South Asian American, or an immigrant, life in America can be challenging. With SAGA, we offer you a safe space to discover your unique identity as a South Asian in America. In this 8-week group, we aim to create a space where you can share your stories and experiences, and receive empathy, support and long-lasting community. Through building meaningful connections with fellow south asians, we encourage you to discover your cultural identities and embrace what makes you, you. With South Asian facilitators trained in multicultural counseling and inclusive therapy practices, you will receive a valuable space to introspect and learn about how your cultural experiences and background influences your day-to-day life. Our facilitators use creative psychotherapy approaches to help you challenge yourselves and grow to your fullest potential. Through building awareness about your own identity, this group will help you connect with like-minded individuals and gently encourage you to achieve the goals you set.
Come join us in creating a community of self-aware, confident and empathetic South Asians!
Group Details
Who can join?
18-24 year olds who identify as South Asian (age exceptions can be made on a case by case basis)
Duration: 8 weeks
When? Thursday at 7:00pm- 8:15 pm EST (Projected start date November 7th.
Price: $50/group or $400 total (discounted to $375 if paid upfront)
**Please note this group is Private Pay Only, and is not eligible for in network or OON insurance coverage.** (limited sliding scale spots available)
Meet the Facilitators:
Ananya
Ananya is a South Asian, International student from Bangalore, India. Born and brought up in India, she has also lived and studied in the UK, Canada and the US. She understands the struggles of adapting to a new society, while trying to hold on to her own cultural identity, and the difficulties of living in a foreign land while trying to forge new relationships and find pockets of familiarity and comfort. Hailing from a cosmopolitan Indian city, she also acknowledges the diversity within South Asian communities and recognizes the uniqueness of each individual’s cultural identity. As a therapist in India, she has assisted several adults in their mental health journey - helping them learn about how their backgrounds impact their lives. Having grown up in a collectivistic society, she acknowledges the challenges of adapting to an individualistic one. Trained in multicultural counseling, she takes pride in adopting a culturally inclusive approach to psychotherapy. She uses her own cultural experiences and insights to truly empathize with groups she works with, and provide her clients with support that is tailored to respect the unique intersections of their identities.
Beyond her professional identity as a therapist, Ananya enjoys Bollywood movies and music, and considers herself a Dosa enthusiast!
Mira
Growing up, she learned how to adapt to various environments and met multiple people over the course of her childhood. Mira identifies as both South and North Indian, as her mother is of Gujarati descent, and her Dad hails from Hyderabad. Mira is proud of her Indian identity and holds traditions close to her heart, however she understands the struggles many South Asian Americans face, of never fitting in. As a therapist, she has training in integrating topics such as intergenerational trauma, and coping with identity related issues. She believes that there is a lack of representation in the field for clinicians of color and she is here to serve as a guide. She wants to help people navigate through any interpersonal problems they may face and her goal is to build trust and unity within the South Asian community. Mira is currently training in REBT, (rational emotive behavioral therapy) and she utilizes psychodynamics in her sessions as well. She is here to be a listener and an advocate for your well being. She is excited to hold a space where people feel safe and validated in a world that can be lonely. When not seeing clients, she loves to write poetry, and considers herself to be a massive Diljit Dosanjh fan!
